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The traffic congestion at Lake Nokomis on Cedar Avenue is increasingly heavier each year. A roundabout might help this intersection. I know a study addressing this occurred in the past and was later discarded. I think now would be a good time to revisit this (or other fixes) for this very congested node.

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19 Comments

minneapolis311@ci.minneapolis.mn.us(Guest)

Thank you for contacting the City of Minneapolis. You can expect a response from one of our customer service agents within one business day (*note: our business hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7 AM to 11 PM). If you wish to speak to a customer service agent immediately, please call 311.

Shawn(Guest)

Jeri(Guest)

We discussed at the CAU meeting last night with Henn Cty Commissioner Peter McLaughlin other alternatives to this intersection, such as moving the point where the freeway meets the parkway a bit further south. This would obviously involve getting county engineers involved. But the fact that the freeway ENDS at the Mpls chain of lakes parkway is a problem in itself.

There has been no movement on this issue, other than to discuss it at a CAU meeting in August with Henn Cty Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. The issues with the intersection are excessive speed, and traffic congestion due to higher usage than the road was ever designed to carry (admitted by the county), 5 intersecting roads at a point where the highway STOPS at the lakes parkway (can the fact that the intersection affects the parkway be leveraged somehow?) and poor planning for merging two lanes to one between the highway at the parkway. Commissioner McLaughlin has suggested he might get the county's engineers to look at this intersection. Please forward to his office once again.

Rita Ulrich(Guest)

Round-a-bouts take a lot of land - There's not enough room on the east side without creating a cliff drop from the street above, and you'd lose at least 3 businesses on the west, including Fat Lorenzo's. There are better "fixes," but none of them are going to be perfect, or please everyone.

will(Guest)

MNDOT actually recommends a smaller, 1 lane roundabout for intersections like this, since it's 1 lane from 3 directions. With the access issue to Edgewater and the parkway this might be the best solution. A roundabout at the W. Nokomis Pkwy/Cedar would allow people to access Edgewater by following the roundabout fully and making a right turn. Here is a great link to the MNDOT roundabout info page: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roundabouts/

Ryan(Guest)

It's not "so-called", it IS a problem. Sit at Fat Lorenzo's for just 5 minutes and you will see cars racing, honking, near-collisions (or actual collisions), pedestrians and bikers nearly getting run over, and more. Sticking our heads in the sand is not a solution.

There is an occasional patrol in that area, but not frequently enough to make a difference.

Fat Lorenzo's has had several severe collisions into the building over the years. The owner is an active supporter of improvement to this intersection as well.

Jason Stone(Guest)

My family and neighbors are at risk simply walking across the street at this intersection, with cars accelerating dramatically in the change between two speed zones. I hope safety for neighborhood residents will be a prominent feature of the final solution.

Rita Ulrich(Guest)

The intersection is dangerous and does need a solution. I don't believe a roundabout is the right solution, but the intersection does need a structural change to make it safer. Patrols/radar only work for a little while; then drivers go back to their old habits.

Will(Guest)

I agree with Rita. There needs to be something done. Tim: The businesses at that intersection, as Ryan points out, are the reason this issue was posted. Fats DESPERATELY wants a solution to the problem [yes, problem]. A roundabout doesn't need to be the solution, but it's been recommended. I should also point out that in the entire city of Minneapolis there are VERY FEW intersections as dangerous as this one, according to the most recent city transportation plan. No one has suggested giving up parkland, but if your concerned about park land, perhaps you'd consider the other environmental and safety issues that this park land faces from the increasing traffic and speeds. What concerns businesses and nearby residents the most is their ability to safely access the surrounding area. Many city planning and property tax models suggest that slowing or calming traffic (thus improving pedestrian access and the surrounding environment) will quickly pay for any improvements with new tax revenue.

Minneapolis 311(Guest)

Email Ref: E13DA7E4B2207

Thank you for contacting the City of Minneapolis. You can expect a response from one of our customer service agents within one business day (*note: our business hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7 AM to 11 PM). If you wish to speak to a customer service agent immediately, please call 311.

Matt(Guest)

Allow me to add my voice to the chorus of neighbors who realize that this IS a major problem intersection. Cars need to be going 35 MPH (or ideally 30) AT this intersection. Not once they get to the north side of the lake, not once they get to the bridge, but once they are no longer on MN-77.

Rita Ulrich(Guest)

I'm curious to see how the speed sign is working (facing northbound traffic on Cedar just before Fats). It's been up a couple weeks now, and am wondering if people are noticing any change in how fast northbound cars approach the Edgewater / Nokomis Parkway intersection.

Minneapolis 311(Guest)

Email Ref: E68C88F4BE301

Thank you for contacting the City of Minneapolis. You can expect a response from one of our customer service agents within one business day (*note: our business hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7 AM to 11 PM). If you wish to speak to a customer service agent immediately, please call 311.

Matthew(Guest)

I think the major problem in this intersection (other than it is simply the end of a highway and people still want to zip into the city) is the Edgewater Blvd intersection 50 ft from another intersection. It is a traffic nightmare to ever put two intersections this close to eachother. This is the root of the problem. I live on Woodlawn Blvd and have to drive along Nokomis Parkway, over to Derby, and then double-back along Woodlawn to get to my home every day. Not a single instance has occured where I wished Woodlawn still intersected Cedar. I am so happy they closed the eastern side of the intersection off years ago. The same should be done with Edgewater and everyone would be so much happier. The residents on Edgewater would soon find themselves living on a much quieter street and everyone else would have a slight inconvenience of having to drive a few extra blocks. The result would be a safer intersection for everyone and a quieter street for the folks living on Edgewater. I fear for my safety almost every time I cross that bad intersection. How many avoidable accidents need to happen here?

I agree that closing access to Edgewater Drive (at least partially) would alleviate some congestion issues -- however, it might make speeding even worse. I don't think a roundabout is a terrible idea. Remember, since there's a lot of public land to work with, it might not necessarily require razing business structures (as the intersection could be relocated slightly north, into the parkland). This intersection handles about the same amount of traffic as Portland/66th, a successful nearby roundabout. HOWEVER, I do not think it would improve pedestrian safety. At the Richfield Pkwy/17th Ave roundabout on 66th, it is extremely hazardous to cross, especially on the east leg, as cars race to the entrance ramps on Cedar (77). Here they would be literally racing forward to Cedar becoming freeway.